Buckle



p i 1951 P. w. WHITE ET AL 2,549,735

BUCKLE Filed May 13, 1948 found to be sufiiciently reliable in Patented Apr. 17, 1951 BUCKLE Paul W. White, West Haven, and Joseph J. SchutnNew Haven, Conn., assignors to Parva Products Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware 7 Application May 13, 1948, Serial No. 26,878

This invention relates to buckles, more particularly to slide buckles, adapted to be mounted on shoe straps, belts or the like for detachably securing or supporting shoes, garments, or other articles and the invention has for an object the provision of a slide buckle which is of relatively small size but of sturdy construction, which is inexpensive to manufacture, and which is. effective to clamp firmly Or to release readily a strap or'the like.

The invention, while applicable to slide buckles generally, is particularly useful in connection with and constitutes improvements in buckles of the type disclosed in prior patents No. 2,361,895, issued October 31, 1944 and No. 2,334,462, issued November 16, 1943 to Paul W. 'White. Although slide buckles formed of sheet metal or of cast or molded material in accordance with the said prior patents and proportioned as illustrated therein provide an attractive appearance and have been operation for many purposes certain objections have'been encountered from the standpoint of production or quantity 'manufacture, from the standpoint of slippage or sticking of the strap, and from the standpoint ofwear on the straps or belts after long periods of use. Furthermore, modern design requirements as to the size and appearance of buckles intended for use on shoe buckles or belts may be readily and adequately met by employing in buckles of the type disclosed in'the aforesaid prior patents, die cast metal frames as distinguished from sheet metal ormolded plastic materials, and it is a further object of this invention to provide an improved slide buckle that presents a neat and highly attractive appearance, that is i sturdy and reliable, that employs a die cast frame that may be formed in readily producible dies, and that may be quickly and economically assembled.

In carrying out the invention in one form a slide buckle is provided comprising a frame formed by die casting or by similar operations and a sheet metal slide for cooperating with the frame, theframe and'the slide having slide-bars and cross-bars defining strap receivin openings therethrough'to receive a strap. The frame is provided on its rear face with a recess forming inwardly-extending slide-supporting shoulders along the frame side-bars and the sheet metal slide is provided with a to permit ready assembly of the fram and cross bar and to retain the slide in the frame afterassembly, the frame is providedlat one end {or the recess with transversely spaced fingers or similar flat tail piece extending from one of the end cross-bars thereof. vIn order 12 Claims. (Cl. 24-194) means for readily receiving the tail piece when the slide is inserted into the recess, the means for receiving the tail piece being thereafter deformable to retain the slide in the recess for sliding movement along the shoulders.

One of the cross-bars on the slide includes a strap-engaging portion for cooperation with a strap-engaging cross-bar on the frame, the relative positions of the strap-engaging portion and cross-bar being such as to provide a'pressure angle of approximately or somewhere between 30 and 75, relative to the path of movementof the slide. In an alternative embodiment the transversely spaced means are adapted to receive the tail piece on the slide when the slide ispositioned rearwardly of the frame with the other cross-bar on the slide engaging the under-surface of the frame cross-bar which defines the other 7 end of the recess. Thetail-piece being formed of resilient sheet metal, is defiectable to permit forcing the slide along the shoulders to a position wherein the second cross-bar on the slide clears the frame cross-bar, whereupon the slide snaps into the recess and is resiliently retained, therein for sliding movement along the. shoulders. More particularly, the spaced apart meansfor receiving'the tail-piece of the slide'in either embodi-' ment constitutes fingers extending inwardly from the frame side-bars in coplanar relation to the shoulders and a frame cross-bar contiguous to the fingers and in transversely spaced relation 3 thereto, and certain of the cross-bars-on the frame and the slide'are provided as heretofore indicated with cooperating strap engaging surfaces for clamping in adjusted positions a strap threaded through the openings in the frame and the slide.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference should now be had to the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a buckle frame adapted for use in buckles embodying the present inven- Fig. 2 is a rear view of the buckle frame shown in Fig. 1;

Fig- 3 Ba front view of'a slide adapted for cooperation with the frame shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

-Fig. 4 is a side view of the slide taken along the line-4- of Fig. 3; f v

Fig. 5 isan end view taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 4; I '7 Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the frame and slide in partially assembledposi-- tion;

but showing the frame and slide in assembled position with a strap partially threaded therethrough;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 7, but showing the buckle and strap in clamping relation;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view on a somewhat enlarged scale showing the interrelation and proportioning of the slide and frame; and

Fig. is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of the invention showing the frame and slide in partially assembled relation.

Referring now to the drawing, the invention is shown as comprising a slide buckle, which includes a frame ID, preferably formed of metal suitable for die casting or similar forming operations and a sheet metal slide ll (Figs. 3, 4 and 5), which is adapted to cooperate with the frame In. As shown, the frame In comprises a pair of side-bars l2 and I3 and a plurality of cross-bars l4, l5 and Hi, the cross-bars l4 and i5 and the side-bars l2 and I3 forming a suitable strap receiving opening [1, through which a strap may be threaded. In the particular form of buckle shown in the drawing, 1. e. a shoe buckle, the frame is provided with a suitable extension comprising side-bar extensions l8 and i9, which are inclined upwardly from the main plane of the frame as shown best in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, and an end cross-bar 2011, which may be employed as a strap hold-down as shown best in Figs. '7 and 9.

If desired and particularly in the event that the buckle is to be employed as a belt buckle, wherein the belt itself is provided with holddown loops, the extensions on the buckle frame may be omitted and the cross-bar I6, which forms the strap attaching bar of the buckle, as will appear more fully hereinafter, may constitute the end cross-bar of the buckle.

As shown best in Fig. 2, the rear face of the buckleframe It is recessed in the neighborhood of the strap receiving opening H toprovide shoulders and 2|, extending along the sidebars 12 and [3, respectively, and to provide additional shoulders 22 and 23, which extend across portions of the cross-bar M on opposite sides of a protruding portion 24, which as shown best in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, is inclined with respect to the plane of the shoulders 29 and 21.

Extending inwardly from the side-bars l2 and IS in spaced relation to the cross-bar I4, is a pair offingers 25 and 26, the under surfaces of which are coplanar with the shoulders 20 and 2|. The cross-bar i5, which includes an extending tongue portion i511, is located contiguous to the fingers 25 and 26, but in transversely spaced relation to the fingers as shown best in Fig. 6, and the V tongue portion I511 when initially formed by the die casting operation underlies the space between the fingers 25 and 26 and slopes rearwardly away from the fingers as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the slide H comprises a pair of cross-bars 2'! and 28 connected by suitable side-bars 29 and 30 to define a strap receiving opening 3 I. The crossba'r 28 is provided with an upwardly extending portion ,32 formed centrally thereof and with a rearwardly extending flat tail piece 33, which is disposed in the main plane of the slide. As shown best in Fig. 5, the cross-bar 2! is provided with a central portion 34, which is deformed out of the main plane of the slide in a direction opposite to the 7 portion 32 and theside-bars 29 and 30 are dis- 4 posed in edgewise relation extending out of the plane of the slide to form runners.

In order to assemble the slide II in the frame l0 it is necessary only to place the slide beneath the frame It) and insert the tail-piece 33 on the slide between the fingers 25 and 26 and the tongue portion [So on the cross-bar l5 as shown best in Fig. 6. Because of slope initially imparted to the tongue portion l5a and the relative proportioning of the parts the slide ll may be readily moved from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the assembled position of Fig. 8 whereupon the tongue portion I 5a may be deformed inwardly to the position of Fig. 8 thereby permanently to retain the slide II in the recess of the frame H1, in which position the tongue portion 15a extends substantially parallel to the shoulders 20 and 2| and serves as a guide for the tail piece 33.

Once the slide and frame have been assembled, the operation of the buckle thereby produced is in general similar to the operation set forth in the above referred to prior patents but by reason of the correlation and proportioning of the parts in the present buckle an improved operation is obtained. The strap receiving openings 3| and I! in the slide and frame respectively are in alignment to permit threading of a strap therethrough and the cross-bars 2'! and 28 on the slide respectively constitute the pull-up bar and the clamping bar of the buckle. The upwardly extending portion 32 on the cross-bar 28 in cooperation with the inclined protruding portion 24 on the cross-bar [4 of the frame serves to clamp the strap in adjusted positions in the buckle whenever tension is applied.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9 the buckle is shown in connection with a strap comprising an attaching portion 40, which is looped around and suitably secured to the cross-bar I6 of the buckle frame, and a free end portion 4| adapted to be threaded through and adjustably clamped in the buckle. In Fig. '7, the buckle is shown with the frame l0. and the slide H in threading position with the free end 4| of the strap extending through the strap receiving apertures l1 and 3|. When tension is applied to the strap, engagement of the strap portion 4| with the pull-up cross-bar 21 on the slide will cause the slide to move in a right hand direction from the position shown in Fig. 7 to the position shown in Fig. 8 in which position the strap is firmly clamped between the upstanding portion 32 of the cross-bar 28 on the slide II and the inclined portion 24 on the cross-bar [4 of the frame It). Thereafter the loose end of the strap portion 4| may be inserted beneath the hold-down-bar 20a as shown in Fig. 8. I

As shown best in Fig. 9 the strap engaging portion32 is so correlated in height and location relative to the clamping portion 24 of the crossbar 14 as to provide a pressure angle of approximately 45 as indicated by the arrow FR in the force triangle formed by the arrows F1, F2 and FR. It has been found that so long as the pressure angle is in the neighborhood of 45, for example between 30 and 75 with respect to the plane of the s1ide,satisfactory operation of the buckle to effect slip-free clamping of the strap while permitting ready release thereof is provided. If the height of the portion 32 is extended approximately to the level of the forward edge of the inclined portion 24, so-called butt-engagement of the strap by the portions 24 and 32 is obtained which will not provide satisfactory clamping of the strap. On the'other hand, if

the height of the portion 32' is reduced so as to require that the portion 32 be moved to a position beneath the surface 2i before engaging the strap, it is not only necessary to lengthen the frame If) to permit such movement of the slide, but the pressure angle approaches the vertical with respect to the plane of the slide, thus tendon the pull-up-bar 21 passes beneath the protruding portion 24 on the frame cross-bar l4 so that this protruding portion is received between the opposite ends of the cross-bar 21, and it will likewise be noted that the force applied to the pull-up bar of the slide H tends to force the slide ll against the shoulders 20, 2|, 22 and 23 of the recess in which the slide moves, and consequently with the cross-bars of the slide I l proportioned and arranged as shown tension applied to the strap tends to hold the slide in proper position in the frame even though, in the clamping position shown in Fig. 9, the tail-piece 33 on the slide is only partially received between the cross-bar l and the fingers 25 and 26. Furthermore the upward force applied to the front end of the frame exceeds the downward pressure exerted on the clamping bar 32 since the pressure angle on the clamping portion 32 is in the neighborhood of 45 and the spacing of the pull-up-bar 2'! from the cross-bar !5 on which the end of the slide rests is greater than the spacing between the clamping-bar 32 and the cross-bar l5.

Whenever it is desired to release the strap from the buckle it is necessary to exert only a slight pull on the freeend of the'strap in a left hand direction as viewed in Fig. 8, thus to cause theslide H to move toward the threading or releasing position shown in Fig. 7.

It will be observed that during the tightening operation and the consequent movement of the slide ll relative to the frame the vertically extending side-bars 29 and 3B serve to'protect the edges of the strap from frictional engagement with the frame sic'e-bars l2 and I3 and particularly with the edges of the shoulders 20 and 2|, the sideebars 29 and 30 being of a height substantially equal to the depth of the recess in the frame It and being of a width at least as great as the width of the shoulders 20 and 2|.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. the buckle frame In is somewhat modified to provide a proper interrelation between the slide II and the frame I!) which permits snapping of the slide ll into the recess inthe frame Ill by reason of the resilient character of the tail piece 33 on the slide, the slide thereafter being resiliently retained in the recess. In'this embodiment, the cross-bar i5 is provided with a tongue [51) which is somewhat shorter than the tongue a of the previously described embodiment and which is initially formed parallel to the shoulders and 2! 0f the frame, as shown. By reason of this construction, the slide I! may be inserted in the frame ii] to the position shown in Fig. 10 wherein the tail piece 33 engages the undersurface of the fingers and 26 andthe forward upper edge of the tongue 151), the cross-bar 22 in this position of the slide engaging the. underlying surfaceofthecross-bar M on the frame. The tail-piece 33 being: resiL- ient, as heretofore indicated, the slide II in this embodiment of the invention may be forced rear-'- wardly from the position shown in Fig. 10 so as to cause flexure 0f the tail piece and movement of the slide along the shoulders 20 and 2! until the cross bar 21 on the slide is free of the crossbar l4 on the frame, whereupon the slide'will snap into a position corresponding to the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and it will be noted that during this assembling operation the downwardly deformed portion 34 of the slide I I accommodates the protruding portion 24 on the cross-bar M.

Once: the slide H snaps into the recess in the frame in, it will be resiliently retained therein by engagement of the cross-bar 28' and the tail-' piece 33 of the slide between the cross-bar l5 with its tongue portion I51) and the fingers 25 and 26 of the frame, andthe slide may be removed from the frame only by forcing the front end of the slide downwardly so as to deflect the tailpiece 33 sufficiently to permit endwise removal of the slide beneath the cross-bar M of the frame.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made,

and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to coverany such'modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim: Y

1. A slide buckle" comprising a frame and a slide for cooperation with said frame, said frame and said slide having side-bars and cross-bars defining strap-receiving openings therethrough toreceive a strap, said frame being rearwardly recessed to provide inwardly extending, rearwardly facing slide-supporting shoulders along said frameside-bars, one of said frame cross-bars being'adjacent one end of said shoulders and having a forwardly facing fiat face disposed in transversely spaced relation to said shoulders, said slide having a flat tail piece extending from one cross-bar thereof and slideably engaging said fiat face of said one frame cross-bar to retain said slide in saidrecess for sliding movement along said shoulders.

2; A slide buckle comprising a frame and a slide for cooperation with said frame, said frame and said slide having side-bars and cross-bars defining strap-receiving openings therethrough to receive a strap, said frame being rearwardly recessed to provide inwardly extending, rear-wardly facing slide-supporting shoulders along said frame side-bars, one of said frame cross-bars being adjacent one end of said shoulders and having a forwardly facing flat face disposed in transversely spaced relation to said shoulders,

said slide having a fiat tail piece extending from one, cross-bar thereof and slideably engaging said 7 flat face of said one frame cross-bar to retain said slide in said recess for sliding movement along said shoulders, said one slide cross-bar having a strap engaging portion extending out of the. plane of said tail piecefor cooperation with another of said frame cross-bars to clamp in adjusted positions a, strap threaded through saidopenings.

wardly facing slide-supporting shoulders along said frame side-bars, one of said frame crossbars being adjacent one end of said shoulders and having a forwardly facing fiat face disposed in transversely spaced relation to said shoulders, said slide having a fiat tail piece extending from one cross-bar thereof and slideably engaging said fiat face of said one frame cross-bar to retain said slide in said recess for sliding movement along said shoulders, said one slide cross-bar defining one end of said strap receiving opening in said slide and having a strap engaging portion extending out of the plane of said tail piece for cooperation with a second one of said frame cross-bars to clamp a strap therebetween, a second cross-bar on said slide extending oppositely out of the plane of said tail piece and serving as a pull-up bar to effect movement of said slide to clamping position when tension is applied to a strap threaded through said openings.

4. A slide buckle comprising a frame and a slide for cooperation with said frame, said frame and said slide having side-bars and cross-bars defining strap-receiving openings therethrough to receive a strap, said frame being rearwardly recessed to provide inwardly extending, rearwardly facing slide-supporting shoulders along said frame side-bars, one of said frame cross-bars being adjacent one end of said shoulders and having a forwardly facing flat face disposed in trans versely spaced relation to said shoulders, said slide having a fiat tail piece extending from one crossbar thereof and slideably engaging said fiat face of said one frame cross-bar to retain said slide in said recess for sliding movement along said shoulders, said one slide cross-bar defining one end of said strap receiving opening in said slide and having a strap engaging portion extending out of the plane of said tail piece for cooperation with a second one of said frame cross-bars to clamp a strap therebetween, a second cross-bar on said slide extending oppositely out of the plane of said tail piece and serving as a pull-up bar to effect movement of said slide to clamping position when tension is applied to a strap threaded through said openings, the force exerted on said pull-up bar by said strap being effective to urge said slide against said shoulders.

5. A slide buckle comprising a frame and a slide for cooperation with said frame, said frame and said slide having side-bars and crossba1s defining strap-receiving openings therethrough to receive a strap, said frame being rearwardly recessed to provide inwardly extending, rearwardly facing slide-supporting shoulders along said frame side-bars, one of said frame cross -bars being adjacent one end of said shoulders in transversely spaced relation thereto and including a projecting tongue portion initially formed to slope away from said shoulders, said slide having a fiat tail piece extending from one cross-bar and adapted to overlie said tongue portion when said slide is inserted into said recess, said tongue portion thereafter being deformable into a plane substantially parallel to said shoulders to form a forwardly facing flat guide surface slideably engaging said tail piece to retain said slide in said recess for sliding movement along said shoulders.

6. A slide buckle comprising a frame and aslide for cooperation with said frame, said frame and said slide having side-bars and cross-bars defining strap-receiving openings therethrough to receive a strap, said frame being rearwardly recessed to provide inwardly extending, rearwardly facing slide-supporting shoulders along Lil said frame side-bars, slide-engaging fingers extending inwardly from said frame side-bars adjacent one end of and in coplanar relation to said shoulders, one of said frame cross-bars being disposed beyond said fingers and including a projecting portion underlying the space between said fingers in transversely spaced relation to the plane of said fingers and said shoulders, said projecting portion being initially formed to slope away from said plane, said slide having a flat tail piece extending from one cross-bar thereof and insertable between said fingers and said projecting portion to permit insertion of said slide into said recess, said projecting portion being thereafter deformable into a plane substantially parallel to said shoulders to slideably engage one face of said tail piece and retain said slide against displacement from said recess.

'7. A slide buckle comprising a frame and a slide for cooperation with said frame, said frame and said slide having side-bars and cross-bars defining strap-receiving openings therethrough to receive a strap, said frame being rearwardly recessed to provide inwardly extending, rearwardly facing slide-supporting shoulders along said frame side-bars, one of said frame cross-bars being adjacent one end of said shoulders and having a forwardly facing surface in transversely spaced relation thereto, said slide having a resilient tail piece extending from one cross-bar thereof and insertable between said spaced frame cross-bar and said shoulders with a second cross-bar on said slide engaging the rear-surface of a second cross-bar on said frame, said tail piece being resiliently defiectable to permit of forcing said slide along said shoulders to a position wherein said second cross-bar on said slide clears said second cross-bar on said frame to snap said slide into the recess in said frame wherein said slide is resilently retained for sliding movement along said shoulders.

8. A slide buckle comprising a frame and a slide for cooperation with said frame, said frame and-said slide having side-bars and cross-bars defining strap-receiving openings therethrough to receive a strap, said frame being rearwardly recessed to provide inwardly extending, rearwardly facing slide-supporting shoulders along said frame side-bars, and fingers extending inwardly from said frame side-bars adjacent one end of and in coplanar relation to said shoulders, one of said frame cross-bars being contiguous to said fingers in transversely spaced relation thereto, said slide having a resilient tail piece extending from one cross-bar thereof and insertable between said fingers and said spaced frame cross-bar With a second cross-bar on said slide engaging the rear-surface of a second cross-bar on said frame, said tail piece being transversely defiectable to permit of forcing said slide along said shoulders to a position wherein said second cross-bar on said slide clears said second crossbar on said frame to snap said slide into the recess in said frame wherein said slide is resiliently retained for sliding movement along said shoulders.

9. A slide buckle comprising a frame and a slide for cooperation with said frame, said frame and said slide having side-bars and cross-bars defining strap receiving openings therethrough to receive a strap, said frame being rearwardly recessed to provide inwardly extending, rearwardly facing slide-supporting shoulders along said frame side-bars, said slide having a resilient tail-piece extending from one cross-bar thereof,

and transversely spaced apart means adjacent one end of the recess in said frame for receiving said tail-piece when said slide is positioned with a second cross-bar thereof engaging the rear surface of the frame cross-bar defining the other end of said recess, said tail-piece being deflectable to permit of forcing said slide along said shoulders to a position wherein said second cross-bar on said slide clears said frame cross-bar to snap said slide into said recess wherein said slide is resiliently retained for sliding movement along said shoulders.

10. A slide buckle comprising a frame and a slide for cooperation with said frame, said frame and said slide having side-bars and cross-bars defining strap-receiving openings therethrough to receive a strap, said frame being rearwardly recessed to provide inwardly extending, rearwardly facing slide-supporting shoulders along said frame side-bars, one of said frame crossbars being adjacent one end of said shoulders and in transversely spaced relation thereto, said slide having aresilient tail-piece extending from one cross-bar thereof and insertable between said spaced frame cross-bar and said shoulders with a second cross-bar on said slide engaging the rear-surface of a second cross-bar on said frame, said tail-piece being resiliently defiectable to permit of forcing said slide along said shoulders to a position wherein said second cross-bar on said slide clears said second cross-bar on said frame to snap said slide into the recess in said frame wherein said slide is resiliently retained for sliding movement along said shoulders, said second frame cross-bar having a strap engaging surface for cooperation with said one cross-bar on said slide to clamp in adjusted positions a strap threaded through said openings.

11. A slide buckle comprising a frame and a slide for cooperation with said frame, said frame and said slide having side-bars and cross-bars defining strap-receiving openings therethrough to receive a strap, said frame being rearwardly recessed to provide inwardly extending, rearwardly facing slide-supporting shoulders along said frame side-bars, said slide being slidably to the depth of said recess and of a width at least disposed in the recess in said frame for move ment along said shoulders, said side-bars of said slide extending in a plane at right angles to the plane of the slide and having a height substan tially equal to the depth.-of said recess and a width at least as great as the width of said shoulders.

12. A slide buckle comprising a frame and a slide for cooperation with said frame, said frame and said slide having side-bars and cross-bars defining strap-receiving openings therethrough to receive a strap, said frame being rearwardly recessed to provide inwardly extending, rearwardly facing slide-supporting shoulders along said frame slide-bars, said slide being disposed in the recess in said frame for sliding movement along said shoulders, one of said cross-bars on said slide extending above the plane of said slide to provide a strap engaging surface cooperating with a cross-bar on saidframe to clamp a strap therebetween, said side-bars of said slide extending in a plane at right angles to the plane of the slide and being substantially equal in height as great as the width of said shoulders.

PAUL W. WHITE. JOSEPH J. SCHUTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 993,320 Brown May 23, 1911 1,038,256 Wright Sept. 10, 1912 1,502,572 Kerngood July 22, 1924 1,708,985 Wadsworth Apr. 16, 1929 2,152,119 White Mar. 28, 1939 2,334,462 White Nov. 16, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 781,626 France Feb. 25, 1935 

